Every Day is Magic: Ada Limón
In her 2015 collection, Bright Dead Things, a National Book Award finalist for poetry, Ada Limón writes of moving to Kentucky: “Confession: I did not want to live here.” It’s perhaps not a surprising sentiment coming from a coastally oriented person who was raised in Northern California, attended college in Seattle, and then spent over a decade in New York City.
But Limón and her husband, Lucas, have been in Lexington for seven years now and the effects of settling into this place are noticeable in her new book, The Carrying (Milkweed, Aug.). It’s a phenomenally lively and attentive collection replete with the trappings of living a little closer to nature. While Bright Dead Things is marked by a preponderance of light, such as images of fireflies and neon signs, The Carrying features numerous appearances by various trees, birds, and beetles. Limón also demonstrates a greater willingness to be explicit in naming colors, particularly green. “It’s crazy green, the whole book,” she says. “Lexington is the greenest place I’ve ever lived.” Similarly, where in Bright Dead Things, Limón tells a lot of stories and anecdotes, in The Carrying she is very present in her thoughts and experiences.
As it turns out, these shifts in focus have another, altogether unexpected source. While putting Bright Dead Things together, Limón was diagnosed with chronic vestibular neuronitis, which can cause bouts of vertigo. “If I’m really having vertigo, it’s pretty intense and I really have to focus,”
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As ‘Three Amigos’ meet in Mexico, experts call on leaders for North American vision
“With Canadian and Mexican manufacturers added in the 11th hour to Biden’s plan to encourage the sale of climate-friendly electric vehicles, there will be room to talk about more familiar irritants like trade disputes and U.S. protectionism…
…As a country that’s not immune to the influences of irregular migration and the flow of fentanyl at the U.S.-Mexico border, Canada will need to be part of that conversation as well, one that’s widely expected to dominate the agenda…”
US-Mexico trade growth to remain steady in 2023, bolstered by nearshoring
“…As the new year approaches, cross-border operators and logistics professionals said 2023 cross-border freight flows should remain strong throughout the year, held up by reshoring and nearshoring of manufacturing operations to North America, particularly Mexico.
“I believe cross-border volumes will be resilient and grow year over year in contrast to a sharp decline in U.S. domestic volumes we are currently seeing,” said Jordan Dewart, president of logistics operator Redwood Mexico. “Nearshoring efforts of companies trying to avoid a repeat of the Asia-trans-Pacific fiasco that occurred during the COVID [pandemic] can already be seen.”..”
Could Mexico replace China as top global manufacturing exporter?
“While the world economy continues to face multiple headwinds, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, lingering pandemic effects and inflationary pressures, many trade professionals remain bullish about the prospect of more companies nearshoring operations to Mexico over the next decade.
A growing number of global shippers view Mexico as an alternative sourcing location to China and other Asian nations by either relocating manufacturing operations just south of the border or choosing to expand existing production in Mexico, experts said….”
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/could-mexico-replace-china-as-top-global-manufacturing-exporter
Mexico.. Promised Land for American Immigrants
“In contrast to the waves of immigrants drawn by the American El Dorado, 38-year-old Gabriel Zarate has left San Diego and California to live in Tijuana, the Mexican border city.
Like Zarate, an increasing number of Americans are moving to Mexico, where they find life less expensive and smoother, despite the risk of upsetting Mexicans deprived of their purchasing power.
“I’ve been in Tijuana for four years,” says the man who crosses the border to work in San Diego as an English teacher for foreign students and returns in the evening.
“One of the main reasons is the cost of living,” explains this Chilean-American. It is less expensive than California.”
“In San Diego, I lived in a studio for $1,275 a month,” says his colleague Mike Rashval, 36, who also teaches English in San Diego but works remotely from Tijuana. Here I pay about half of the amount.”
“I love Mexicans, and Mexican food,” continues Gabriel Zarate, who lived in Latin America for several years…
https://globeecho.com/politics/mexico-promised-land-for-american-immigrants/
Key facts about U.S. Latinos for National Hispanic Heritage Month
“…The U.S. Hispanic population reached 62.5 million in 2021, up from 50.5 million in 2010. The 19% increase in the Hispanic population was faster than the nation’s 7% growth rate, but slower than the 23% increase in the Asian population. In 2021, Hispanics made up nearly one-in-five people in the U.S. (19%) – the 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is up from 16% in 2010 and just 5% in 1970…”
Spotlight: Cybersecurity regulation in Latin America
“…Brazil and Mexico are regional data protection leaders, as they also suffer a rising number of cyberattacks, Carolina Pardo, partner at Baker McKenzie, told BNamericas. “Other jurisdictions are not implementing specific measures, although there are some good starting points in the guidelines on data security in Colombia and a bill in Chile,” she added…”
https://www.bnamericas.com/en/features/spotlight-cybersecurity-regulation-in-latin-america
How to come to Canada through CUSMA If you are American or Mexican, you may be eligible for a work permit under CUSMA.
“…American and Mexican citizens do not require a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada, so applications for a CUSMA work permit can be done at any Port of Entry or at a Visa office.
There are four categories of temporary work covered under CUSMA:
- CUSMA Professional
- CUSMA Intra-Company transfer
- CUSMA Traders
- CUSMA Investors…”
- https://www.cicnews.com/2022/08/how-to-come-to-canada-through-cusma-0829779.html#gs.9ltsjn
10 Fastest-Growing Jobs for Hispanic and Latino Americans
“…In the second quarter of 2020, the Hispanic and Latino unemployment rate was 16.7%, the highest unemployment rate in that period compared with those of white, Black and Asian Americans. More recently, in the second quarter of 2021, the Hispanic and Latino unemployment rate was 7.2% — 2.1 and 1.6 percentage points higher than the white and Asian unemployment rates, respectively, and 2 percentage points lower than the Black unemployment rate…”
https://www.moneytalksnews.com/slideshows/10-fastest-growing-jobs-for-hispanic-and-latino-americans/
Can Mexico turbocharge pandemic nearshoring by US firms?
“…Encourage more US firms to move businesses they have offshored to China and Southeast Asia closer to home.“Some of our members have been successfully nearshoring to Mexico for several years,” Aburto told Al Jazeera. “About 5 percent of our members had taken up nearshoring prior to the pandemic.”
Activists push for Mexico’s GM corn ban to include imports
Citigroup’s Mexico exit sparks fears over fate of art collection
Avocado toast? US suspends imports from key region in Mexico
US-Mexico avocado spat is already causing shortages
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/2/18/an-mexico-turbocharge-pandemic-nearshoring-by-us-firms
Here’s why agricultural experts think an avocado shortage — and price surge — may be looming
“Over 80% of the avocados found in the United States — whether that be in supermarket produce sections or on the line at your local Chipotle — are imported from Michoacán, Mexico. However, over the weekend, the United States Department of Agriculture (the USDA) suspended avocado imports from the Mexican state after an American inspector was allegedly verbally threatened on his official cellphone.
According to the USDA, the agency is working with Customs and Border Protection to funnel avocados that were certified for export on or before Feb. 11 into the United States. However, avocados certified for export after that date will not be allowed to enter the United States “as long as necessary to ensure the appropriate actions are taken, to secure the safety of APHIS personnel working in Mexico.” …”
Proteum Energy and Istmo Energy Sign MOU For Production of Low Cost, Clean Hydrogen in the Permian Basin
“…”Istmo Energy is pleased to have the option to leverage our onsite de-ethanizers to produce hydrogen from ethane for our hydrotreaters, while at the same time offer additional clean hydrogen sales in the Permian region,” said Alex Gutierrez, Principal and Co-Founder of Istmo Energy…”
https://www.yahoo.com/now/proteum-energy-istmo-energy-sign-120000729.html
Texas now more demographically diverse, 2020 Census count shows
“A majority of the Texas population is now made up of people identifying as racial and ethnic groups other than white, according to information released Aug. 12 by the U.S. Census Bureau. The information is based on the 2020 Census count and will be used by state legislators to draw up new political districts this fall.
A 15.9 percent increase in population netted Texas two additional members in Congress. The areas they will represent will be determined during a fall special session of the Texas Legislature.
The total population in Texas is now 29,145,505. According to the 2020 Census, the population is split into the follow percentages among racial and ethnic groups:
- White (non-Hispanic) — 39.8 percent, 11,584,597, up 187,252 from 2010
- Hispanic — 39.3 percent, 11,441,717, which is 1,980,796 more than in 2010
- Black or African American — 11.8 percent, 3,444,712, an increase of 557,887 from 2010
- Asian — 5.4 percent, 1,561,518, an increase of 613,092 from 2010…
- https://www.dailytrib.com/2021/08/13/texas-now-more-demographically-diverse-2020-census-count-shows/
Crediverso, bilingual financial platform, first to serve Hispanic community
“…Fresno, Calif. (KFSN)-Hispanic-owned personal finance company is taking action to break down barriers by launching its first bilingual platform to serve more than 62 million Hispanic consumers. ..Crediverso is a new one-stop shop for Latin Americans looking for free access to compare credit cards, loans, international money transfers and credit checks.Digital platforms set themselves apart by providing these resources in Spanish. This is the first time in this country.We also offer a live forum moderated by advisors of Spanish-speaking professionals such as personal finance professionals and celebrities.Carlos Hernandez, CEO of Creed Verso, said:Carlos Hernandez says the idea began a few years ago with a personal experience growing up in a Mexican-American family. He says the team is also passionate about the opportunities they are creating for Latino Americans….”
Mexicans judge the USMCA trade deal’s first year a success
“…One thing Mexicans do agree on is that the USMCA has proved a success in its first year, albeit not always for the reasons they imagined. Business is happy that the deal’s detailed strictures on regulation and governance provide a layer of protection against López Obrador’s more radical ideas. The president and his supporters like the deal’s role as a job creator, as well as its labor provisions. These help improve wages for Mexicans and have enabled moves against a union closely tied to an opposing political party.
Above all, the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of manufacturing close to home, providing a reason for U.S. businesses already in Mexico to consider expanding operations, even when the overall business climate under López Obrador is far from ideal…”
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/analysis/mexicans-judge-the-usmca-trade-deals-first-year-a-success/
The next crisis? Homelessness.
…”But now it seems there will be no more reprieves for the nation’s roughly 8 million households behind on their rent and mortgage payments. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, more than 4 million of those households face the likelihood of eviction in the next two months.
This prompted the Biden White House to hold a summit, encouraging cities and municipalities to develop eviction prevention plans — and take advantage of the $46 billion in emergency funds the federal government set aside to keep people in their homes.
“Renters at risk of eviction are desperate for that relief,” Susan Rice, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, said at the event. “And landlords need to cover their bills.”…”
Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey (a comparison of employment rates by ethnicity)
Corona virus Economic Downturn Has Hit Latinos Especially Hard
“The coronavirus outbreak has significantly harmed the finances of U.S. Hispanics. As the nation’s economy contracted at a record rate in recent months, the group’s unemployment rate rose sharply, particularly among Hispanic women, and remains higher among Hispanic workers than U.S. workers overall. With Hispanic households absorbing lost jobs and wages, many have said they may not be able to pay their bills. Yet even before the outbreak, Hispanics were concerned about their economic situation despite near record low levels of unemployment through the end of 2019…”
Mexican ambassador to US discusses immigration, trade in Wednesday event
“Martha Bárcena Coqui, Mexican ambassador to the United States since December 2018 and the first woman to hold the position, spoke to Duke students Wednesday in a virtual event.Topics focused on United States-Mexico relations, increasing tensions due to immigration, the replacement of the North American Free Trade Agreement by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and the impact of COVID-19 on an already-complex diplomatic relationship. “Be proud of your culture and what you represent,” Bárcena urged students as she reflected on the parallel trends of increasing opportunities for Mexican Americans and increased hostility toward immigrants.In the past 30 years, she argued, the United States and Mexico have gone from being almost distant neighbors to being essential trade partners, thanks to agreements such as NAFTA. Supply chains between the two—as well as Canada—have become completely integrated in areas ranging from pharmaceutical supplies to automotive parts. The free trade area encompassing Mexico and the United States is now valued at over $1.3 trillion, which, as Bárcena points out, is greater than the gross domestic products of some nations in the Group of 20…”
Mexico is in crisis. Its president insists on alternative reality.
“Last Saturday, Mexico’s finance minister, Arturo Herrera, offered a grim assessment of the country’s outlook after the pandemic. This year and the next, Mexico will have “the strongest crisis since 1932,” Herrera said.
That might end up being an understatement. The Mexican economy is in shambles. GDP has contracted for five consecutive quarters, well before the pandemic began. Investment has fallen at record rates. Crucial industries, such as tourism, have collapsed. Over the past few months, the country has lost at least 12 million jobs, more than 1 million in the formal sector alone. Without help from the government, which has insisted in a policy of austerity, thousands of small businesses have gone underwater. Wages have fallen dramatically. By the time the crisis ends, experts predict 25…”
Latino businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic. But owners won’t give up hope
“Maria Palacio had made it.
She grew up on a coffee farm in Colombia. She knew how little money coffee farms and their workers made. When she came to the U.S. in 2010, she wanted to change that, so she founded Progeny Coffee in Palo Alto to help bring growers out of poverty.
Soon, she began supplying Google, Facebook, Microsoft and LinkedIn, providing coffee for the tech companies’ huge campuses, which allowed her to bring awareness to the coffee farmers she started all of this for.
Then tech companies began sending workers home, closing their campuses in Silicon Valley and their towers in San Francisco in the weeks before the coronavirus was officially declared a pandemic. Sales at the company, now based in Berkeley, dropped by 97% after shelter-in-place hit, Palacio said…”
